Quartermaster was a term used to describe the navigator of a naval vessel.[1] The title was derived from the phrase "master of the quarterdeck", as the helm was located here.

Pirate quartermasters were commonly elected by the crew, and ranked higher than any officer aboard the ship, except the captain. Pirate quartermasters could veto the captain's decisions and often oversaw punishments and discipline for such crew members as transgressed the Code of the Brethren. It was also common for quartermasters to lead pirate boarding parties.[2]